Navy tests Rail-Gun

[Wombat]

I read somewhere (still searching for the link) that unless the ship is nuclear powered, current generators onboard will only allow 7 - 10 shots of a 5 inch gun per DAY... (at 64 megajoules). (and thats with replaseing the available space from the armours with energy storage systems)

It's most likely NOT a power lmitation, but rather having to test/calibrate/repair the guns between shots. They have to be super-precise in order to be accurate.

[RedRed]

@ technoid - its a different area of physics.... The sabot weight about 3 KG. the trick to its destructive ability is that it strikes fast (very) with its kinetic energy in a tiny point. Kind of like the effct of a stiletto heel standing on your foot exerts more pain than an elephant standing on your foot!

That destroys the sabot and translates it into a stream of metal vapour (under pressure) - this is a bit like a blowtorch. Anyone in it is already dead - but they might not realise it!


Overpressure blows up the target.

thats why the sabot only works against 'hard' targets. something that yields (as in a normal sheet of steel) simply allows the sabot to pass through without significant damage. Had picture (3) in Dr M first post been armoured, the shell would have blown the boxcar apart. Had it been filed with sand or concrete- the sabot would have buried its self without much happening. Instead it blew a neat hole. - you can possibly see some signs of in the 3rd picture.... there appears to be a slight outward bulge to the front of the boxcar....

[Rakido]

[RedRed]

That is too funny!

needs to say a doomesqe 'RAMPAge' with 3 head shots!!!

[lowlifecat]

instagib was my fav quake3/ut playing style